William f



(No Model.)

W. P. HODGE & N. H. PRATT.

HEEL EORMINGMAGHINE. N0. 361;414. Patented Apr. 19, 1'88? WITNESSES 11v VEJV'TORS Edge m m'i-fraaz a. virus, Phulo-umognpher. wmi m. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. HODGE AND NORMAN 'H. PRATT, OF NORTH ADAMS, MASS, ASSIGNORS TO THEMSELVES AND GARRY S. THAYER, OF SAME PLACE.

HEEL-FORMING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 361,414, dated April 19, 1887.

Application filed February 3, 1887. Serial No. 226,408. (No model.)

To all whom itmay concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM F. Honen and NORMAN H. PRATT, of North Adams, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel-Forming Machines; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a press, showing our improved heel-forming machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same on line as m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line y 3 Fig. 1.

This invention relates to improvements in boot and shoe machines, and is especially designed for forming the heels of boots and shoes, and has for its objects to provide mechanism for compressing the rough heel-blanks, which can be formed of small pieces of waste leather into proper finished form, and to properly perforate the heel when so compressed for the insertion of pegs or other fastening, and, further, to force the heel after finishing and perforatingout of the shaping-dies, -so that it can be easily removed by the operator. These objects we attain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and clearly specified in the following description:

In the drawings, H-H designate two vertical metal rods of the machine, which rods form the standards of our forming device. 7

A designates a cross-beam moving vertically between the'standards H, and having at its ends the sleeves or guide-thimbles, which surround rods H, and thereby keep the beam A in proper position. Beam Ais keptin proper position on rods H by means of nuts h, which are screwed on the upper threaded ends of the rods above the beam, and by means of coiled springs h the beam is held up against these nuts. These springs are placed on the rods beneath the beam, and are controlled by means of collars h provided with suitable set-screws. To the rear side of beam A, centrally thereof, is secured the downwardly-extending bar G,

BB aresimilar arms or dogs pivoted at their upper ends on the cross-beam A, as shown, for a purpose hereinafter shown.

I) designate springs, adapted to depress the outer ends of the arms B after being raised. The lower ends of arms B are provided with open slots 1), for a purpose hereinafter described. I

F designates a follower-block, carrying the forming-dies for the heel and the perforating mechanism. 7 The follower F moves on rods H H by means of thimbles f f at its ends, asshown.

D D designate the forming-plates of the machine. These plates are about semicircular in plan, and are pivoted at their rear joining ends by suitable bolts upon the top plate, F, of follower F, so that they swing toward or from each other. Theinner portions of plateD are shaped so as to receive and hold the heel-shaping dies D D which dies are each adapted to give the proper shape and finish to the opposite sides of the heel when the dies are closed D, opposite their pivots on plate F, are pivoted the slotted plates D D, which stand in line with the length of follower F.

E E designate levers or arms, the lower ends of which are pivoted on blocks 6, which move in suitable guide-recesses formed near the lower front corners of the follower F, and which are rendered adjustable by means of sorewbolts 6 which pass through the ends of the follower F, outside sleeves ff. These levers E pass upward through the slotted plates D, and their upper ends are engaged with the arms B B by means of pivot-bolts e, which engage the slots in arms B and extend freely through vertical slots in levers E, and are firmly secured by means of suitable washers and nuts, as shown.

6 is a guide-bar secured to follower F outside of levers E, and which serves to keep the levers from springing outwardly during the operations of the machine. In place of bar 6, the front edge of plate F may be extended and provided with suitable slots to form the guides.

The plate F of follower F is provided centrally with a number of perforations, f, corresponding in their order to the edges of the bottom of the heel, and through which perforations the heel, after compression but before being released, is perforated for the reception of the retaining-pegs.

I designates a lever, which is pivoted to follower F between lugs i, depending from the rear edge of plate F about centrally of the length of the follower. The inner end of lever I is pivoted to the lower surface of the block J, which is situated just beneath the perforationsf in plate F, and carries a number of awls or pins, j, corresponding in position and number to the perforations, through which they pass, and penetrate the heel-blank when the outer end of lever I is depressed. This depression is effected by means of the slotted bar G, the outer end of lever I entering the lower end of slot G thereof, and when the follower ascends at the proper time it impinges against the upper end of the slot and is held while the follower F continues to ascend, thus causing the described action of the awl-block.

\Vithin the lines of the perforations f of plate F the latter is recessed for the reception of a disk, K, which, when in place, will. lie with its face flush withthe surface of plate F. This disk is secured on top of a short vertical rod, k, which passes through a proper opening in the plate F, and is guided thereby, being prevented from escaping therefrom by means of a suitable pin or band near its lower end. L designates a coiled spring, which is fixed to the lower end of rod 70, and which is adapted to force the rod and disk K upward, the lower end of the spring bearing on the awl-block J, or, where the latter is not used, on a suitable support beneath the plate F.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The follower F being provided withsuitable means for reciprocating it, a blank heel roughly put together is placed between the dies D, the follower being at its lowest point, and the dies consequently open. The follower is then moved upward, which action causes the upper ends of levers E E to approach each other by reason of their connections with the arms B, which turn upward on their pivots and form toggle-joints with levers E, forcing the upper ends of thelevers toward each other, and consequently closing the swinging dies D through the medium of plates D D. At the same time former-block G is brought forcibly into contact with the upper surface of the blank and gives it its proper contour. Simultaneously with this operation the end of lever I is engaged by the bar G, as described, and the awl-block forced upward, perforating the blank, as described. As the follower F descends the awl-block is retracted and the dies opened, and when the dies have sufficiently loosened their hold on the nowcompletelyformed heel the disk K is actuated by spring L and throws it out of the dies, so that it can be quickly removed, and the operation repeated on a new blank. The springs b cause the arms B to descend with the lever I. I

Having described our invention, we claim- 1. In a heel-forming machine, the combination, with the vertical guide-rods, of a crossbeam carrying the shaping-block for the top of the blank, and the follower carrying the shaping-dies for the sides of the blank, levers pivoted to the follower at their lower ends and to adjustable arms on the cross-beam at their upper ends, and connecting links or bars between. the levers, and shaping-dies, whereby the reciprocation of the follower causes the operation of the dies, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the vertical guiderods, the transverse beam adjustably secured on said rods, and the former-block secured to said cross-beam, with the follower F, movlng on the vertical rods, the levers pivoted on the follower and actuating the shaping-dles, and the arms pivoted on the cross-beam and forming toggle-joints with the levers on the follower-block, all substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the vertical guiderods, the transverse beam, the follower moving on the vertical rods, the block 0, secured to the beam, the arms pivoted on the follower and actuating the shaping-dies, the arms plvoted on the transverse beam and forming toggle-joints with the arms on the follower-block, the lever pivoted to the bed-plate and havlng an awl-block at its inner end, and the slotted bar depending from the cross-beam and arranged to depress the rear end of said lever, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the guide-rods H, beam A, block 0, and the arms B, pivoted and adjustably secured on beam A, with the follower F, plate F, plates D, carrying dies D, plates D, pivoted to plates D, and the levers E, all constructed and adapted to operate substantially as described.

5. The combination of the vertical guiderods, the transverse beam, the arms B, secured on said beam, the follower F, plates D, carrying dies D and plates D and levers E, substantially as described, with the lever I. pivoted on follower F, the throw-out disk K, lying between dies D, and having a rod, k, and spring L, and adapted to be operated by the lever I, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of guide-rods H, beam A, block 0, arms B on beam A, the follower F, plate F, plates D, carrying dies D pivoted on plate F, the slotted plate-D, and levers E, all substantially as described, with a lever, I, pivoted to lugs on the under surface of plate F, and the throw-out disk K, its rod and spring, and the awl-block J, operated by lever I, all constructed and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination of the rods H, beam A, block G, arms B, the follower F, plates F, D, and D, dies D, and levers E, with the slotted bar G, depending from beam A, and the lever WILLIAM F. HODGE. NORMAN H. PRATT.

Witnesses:

S. PROCTOR THAYER, SHEPHERD THAYER. 

